#Z3o 


Duke  University  Libraries 

Message  of  His 
Conf  Pam  12mo  #230 

DTc11570Efl  + 


■Ji 


MESSAGE 

OF  HIS  EXCELLENCY 

JOSEPH  E-  BROWN, 

TO  TilG  LEGISLATURE  OF  THE  STATE  OF  GEORGIA, 

CONVENED  IN  EXTRA  SESSION, 

AT 

MACON, GEORGIA, 
February  15th,  1865. 


EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT,  ) 
Macon,  Ga.,  Feb.  15th.  LS65.      > 

To  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  : 

Since  your  adjournment  in  November,  the  army  of  inva- 
sion led  by  a  bold  and  skillful  General,  have  passed 
through  our  State,  laid  waste  our  fields,  burned  manv  dwel- 
ling houses,  destroyed  county  records,  applied  the  torch  to 
giu-houses,  cotton,  and  other  property,  occupied  and  dese- 
crated the  capitol,  an  i  now  hold  the  city  of  Savannah, 
which  gives  them  a  water  base  from  which  they  may  in 
future  operate  upon  the  interior  of  the  State. 

The  army  of  Tennessee,  which  "contained  a  large  number 
of  Georgia  troops,  and  was  relied  on  as  the  only  barrier  to 
Sherman's  advance,   the    removal  of  w  ft  Georgia  at 

the  mercy  of  the  enemy,  was  ordered  «  ,'  the  Ten 

see  river  upon  a  campaign  which  has  d  in  disti 

In  the  mi  1st  of  these  misfortunes  ( 1  tauilted 

by  some  ol  the  public  journals  of  othi  1Cl- 

people  did  not  drive  back  and  dostro\  y  of  th< 


?fi'i©5,3 


. 


my.    Those  who  do  us  this  injustice  fail  to* state   the 
known  fact  that  of  all   the  tens  of  thousands  of  veteran  in- 
fantry, including  most  of  the  .vigor  and  manhood  of  the  State. 
which  Bhe    had  furnished   for  Confederate  service,   but   a 
single  regiment  (the  Georgia  Regulars,)  of  about  three  !nui| 
dred  effective  men,  was  permitted  to  be  upon    tier  soil  da- 
ring the   march  ofXJeuenal  Sherman  from  her  North-wes- 
ters border  to  the  city  of  Savannah;  and  even  that   gallant 
regiment  was  kept  upon  one  w  our  islands  most  of  the  time, 
and  not  permitted  to  unite  with  those  who  met  the  enemy. 
Nor  were  the  places  bfourabsent  sons  filled  by  troOps  from 
other  S'nies.     One  brigade  of  Confederate  troops   was  sent 
by  tin-  President  from  North  Carolina,  which  reached  G< 
. : t ,  r  her  capital  was  in  the  possession  o(  the  enemy. 

Thus  abondonea  to  r.er  fate  and  neglected  by   the  Con- 
federate authorities,  the  Siate  was  left  to  deiend  herself  as 
.,..  could   :■.  victorious  armj  of  nearly    fifty 

thousand  of  the  best  trained  veteran  troops  of  the  United 
s,  with  only  the  Geoigia  reserves  and  militia,  consist- 
ing oi  a  few  thousand  old  men  and  boys,  while  tier  army  of 
able-bodied  gallant  sons  were  held  lor  the  defence  of  other 
States,  and  denied  the  privilege  to  return  and  strike  an 
honest  blow  lor  the  protection  of  their  hone's  their  prop- 
erty, their  wives  #ad  their  children. 

While  the  Confederate  reserves  in  other  States  have  been 
lint  little  of  their  time  in  the  field  on  active  duty,  and  the 
militia  consisting  ot boys  between  sixteen  and  seventeen, 
and  old  men  between  fifty  mid  sixty,  and  agriculturalist! 
detailed  by  the  Confederate  Government,  have  not  in  mosk 
of  the  States  been  called  out  at  all,  the  Confederate  reserves, 
the  reserve  militia,  the  detailed  men,  the  exempts  from  <  Ion- 
federate  service,  and  most  ot  the  State  officers,  eivil  as  well 
««»  military,  have  in  this  State  been  kept  in  the  field  almost 
constantly  lor  the  last  eight  months. 

These  troons  of  Classes  not  ordered  out  elsewhere  were 
placed  under  the  control  of  the  Confederate  General  com- 
manding the  departmi  pit,  and  have  participated  in  every  im- 
portant light  from  Kenncsaw  in  this  State  to  ( Jraham  villtt 
or  Honey  Hill  in  South  Carolina.  The  important  victory 
at  the  latter  place  was  achieved  by  the  Georgia  militia,  the 

Georgia  reserves,  the  G "gia  State  line,  the  Forty-seventh 

Georgia  Regiment,  and  ;l  very  small  number  of  South  Caro- 
linians, all  commanded  by  that  able  and  accomplished  ofti- 
er,  Major  General  G.  W Smith,  of  the  Georgia  militia.  As 
I  have  seen  no  Confederate  oflicial  account  of  this  important 
igement,  which  gives  the  credit  where  it  is  justly  due,  I 
mention  these  facts  as  part  of  the  history  of  our  State. 

If  all  the  sors  ef  Georgia  under  arms  in  other  States,  of 
which  nearly  fifty  regiments  were  in  Virginia,  besides  those 
in  the  Carolinas,  Florida  and  Tennessee,  had  been  permitted 


to  meet  the  foe  upon  her  own  soil,  without  other  assistance. 
General  Sherman's  army  could  never  have  passed  from   her 
mountains  to  her  seaboard,  and  destroyed    their  property 
and   their  homes.     Ho  had  nearly  four  hundred   miles  to 
march  over  an  enemy's  country  ;  he  was  entirely  dependent 
upon  the  wagon  train  which  he  carried  with  him  for  a  sup- 
pi^  of  'ammunition,  Without  the  possibility  of  replenish  in  fl- 
atter what  he  had    was  consumed.     Had  he  been   resisted 
from  the  start  by  a  competent  force,  and  compelled  to  fight, 
his  ordnance  stores  must  soon  have  been  exhausted,  and  he 
forced  to  an  unconditional  surrender.     Such  another  oppor- 
tunity to  strike  the  enemy  a  stunning  blow  will  not  proba- 
bly occur  during  the    war.     The  destruction  of  this  army 
would  have  re-inspired  our  people  with  hope,  depressed  the 
spirits  of  our  enemies,  and  might   have  prepared    the  wav 
speedily  for  the  negotiation  of  an  honorable  peace.  It  could 
have  been    done  by   the  Georgia   troops  if  permitted.     It 
should   have  been  done  at  the  expense,  if  necessary,  of  the 
evacuation  of  Richmond,  and  the  use  of  Gen.    Lee's  whole 
army  thrown  rapidly  into  Georgia!  for  that  purpose.  No  one 
would  regret  more  than  I  to  see  that  city,  which  has  been 
so  long  -M\d  so  nobly  defended,  surrender  to  the  enemy;  but 
it  rtiust  be  admitted,  since  the  devastation   of  the  country 
beyond,  that  it  is  now  only  a  strong  out-post  of  little  mili- 
tary importance,  compar  ;d  with  the  great  interior.     It  must 
also  be  admitted  that  Richmond  is  rendered  insecure  by  the 
successes  of  General  Sherman  in  the  interior,  and  the  posi- 
tion he  has  gained  in  the  rear  of  that  and  other  strongholds, 
which  were  relied    on  for   defence.     If  his    unobstructed 
movement  through  Georgia  must  result  in  the  loss  of  Rich- 
mond, how  much  better  it  would  have  been  if  we  had  give* 
the  evacuation  of  Richmond  for  the  destruction   of  his  ar- 
my. 

1  have  felt  it  my  duty  to  refer  to  these  facts  in  justice  to 
my  State,  of  which  it  may  be  safely  said  she  has  had  a  lar- 
-»'r  proportion  of  her- white  male  population  under  arms  for 
the  last  eight  months,  in  defence   of  our   cause,  than    any 
other  State  in  the  Confederacy.     On  account  of  the  attach- 
ment el'  her  people  to  the  cause   of  State  sovereignty  and 
constitutional  liberty,  and  their  remonstrances  against  un- 
iable  usuipations  of  power  by  the  Confederate  govern- 
ment, Georgia  has   been  systematically  if  not  wilfully  mis- 
represented by  government  officials  and  organs,    who  give 
circulation  to  the  mo3t  reckless  and  unjust  comments  upon 
the  conduct  of  the  people  of  the  State  and  her  government, 
without  the  magnanimity  or  common   honesty  to   publish 
the  facts  when  laid  before  them,    which  show    their  state- 
ments to  be  without  any  real  foundation  in  fact.     As  an  in- 
stance, I  mention  the  fact  that  it  has  been  industriously  cir- 
culated that  I,  as  Governor  of  the  State,  have  kept  fifteen. 


thousand  men  out  of  service  under  the  exemption  acts.  I 
corrected  this  misrepresentation  by  •  published  statement. 
which  showed  t hut  1  had  put  into  service  classes  of  person* 
not  ordered  out  in  other  States,  and  that  the  whole  number 
of  State  officers  in  Georgia,  who  have  been  held  by  me  un- 
der the  legislation  of  the  Stale  to  be  exempt  from  military 
kv'rvice,  was  only  1,150,  of  whom  a  large  proportion  Are 
over  military  age.  This  correction  was  pa- M d  in  silence 
by  many  who  had  given  publicity  to  the  groundless  charge, 
which  was  intended  to  be  injurious  to  the  Governor  of  tho 
Mate,  to  the  persons  exempted  by  her  laws,  and  to  the 
i  haraeter  other  people.  I  am  satislied,  however,  that  im- 
partial history  will  do  justice  to  the  government  and  peo- 
.)!,■  of  Georgia,  as  well  as  to  the  conduct  and  motives  of  her 
ants,  who  have  stripped  her  of  her  strength  and  left 
ner  to  the  ravages  of  her  torcign  enemies. 


THE    MILITIA. 


Kxperience  has  shown  the  necessity  fur  amendments  in 
our  militia  laws.  The  laws  should  be  so  changed  as  to  pro- 
vide for  a  separate  organization  of  the  old  men  over  fifty 
vearsof  age,  under  officers  of  their  own  numbertobe  elect- 
ed by  them.  All  ciyil  ©{fitters  of  the  several  counties  now 
exempt  from  service  should  be  made  subject  to  militia  duty 
in  these  organizations. 

When  organized  the  Reserve  Militia  of  this  class  should 
be  required  to  do  all  necessary  police  duty  in  their  several 
counties,  and  to  arrest,  and  turn  over  to  the  proper  authori- 
al 1  deserters  from  State  or  Confederate  service,  and  all. 
persons  subject  to  State  service,  who  do  not  immediately 
report  for  duty,  when  required  by  General  Orders.  On 
failure  to  discharge  this  duty  faithfully  and  efficiently,  the 
Governor  should"  be  authorized  to  order  them  into  the  field 
for  active  duty  in  plaee  of  those  permiited  by  them  to  re- 
main at  home,  who  owe  active   service. 

As  the  detail  of  the  men  over  fifty  yea/I  of  age    for  this 
service  at  home,  who  were  called  out  prior  to  the  organiza- 
tion of  part  of  the  brigades,  now  in  the    fifld,  has    reduced 
them  below  the  proper  number  of  a  brigade,  and   has  left 
supernumerary  officers,  provision  should  he  made  lor  a  re- 
organization by  election  of  the  Brigades,  Regiments,    Bat- 
talions and  Companies  now  in  service,  reducing  the  number 
of  organizations  as  may  be  proper,  and  the  commissions  of 
all  not  elected  should  be  suspended  and  they  be  required  to 
do  service.     This  would  make  the  organizations  more  effec- 
tive. The  militia  under  fifty  years  ol  age  organized  as  above 
suggested  should  be  known  as  the  Active  Militia. 

A  permanent  General  Court  Martial  should  be  establish- 
ed for  the  trial  of  deserters  and  other  delinquents.  This 
would  secure  the  enforcement  of  discipline,  and  the.  execu- 
tion of  a  few  guilty  persons,  woi  td    ti  p  desertion.     The 


0m     St  O 


5 

militia  organization  completed  upon  this  basis  should  be 
kept  by  the  State  during  the  war  for  the  defence  of  her 
territory,  and  the  execution  of  her  laws,  and  should,  in  no 
case,  be  turned  over  to  the  unlimited  control  of  the  Confed- 
erate Government  or  any  other  power.  Nor  should  it  be 
sent  out  of  the  State  unless  it  is  for  the  protection  of  some 
part  of  our  border,  except  in  such  cases  of  emergency  as  in 
the  opinion  of  the  Governor  make  it  proper  that  Georgia 
give  aid  for  a  limited  time  to  a  sister  State. 

The  Confederate  Constitution  authorizes  the  State  to  keep 
troops  it)  time  of  war.  This  is  a  reserved  right,  the  exercise 
of  which  by  the  State  violates  no  right  of  the  Confederate 
Government,  and  infringes  upon  no  delegated  powers  ;  nor 
is  the  exercise  of  a  plainly  reserved  right  by  the  State  a 
breach  of  faith  either  to  the  Confederacy  or  any  sister 
State. 

Our  recent  sad  experience  has  shown  the  wisdom  of  the 
reservation.  But  for  the  troops  kept  by  the  State  the  city 
where  you  are  now  assembled  would  have  been  occupied, 
plundered  and  sacked  by  the  enemy  in  their  late  march 
through  the  interior. 

The  constitution  limits  the  State  to  no  particular  class  or 
age.  She  may  keep  troops  composed  of  any  part  of  her  citi- 
zens whom  she  may  chose  to  organize.  If  we  admit  the 
constitutionality  ot  conscription  which  authorizes  Congress 
to  conscribe  our  citizens  to  raise  armies,  that  provision  of 
the  constitution  must  be  construed  with,  and  limited  bv, 
the  reservation  in  the  same  instrument  of  the  right  of  the 
State  to  keep  troops  ,in  time  of  war.  This  would  make  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  Confederate  and  State  Governments  con- 
current ovr  the  arms-bearing  population  of  the  States  in 
time  of  w;:r.  It  follows  in  that  case  that  the  Government 
which  first  organizes  and  places  the  troops  in  actual  service 
lias  a  right  to  hold  them  as  against  the  other.  The  State 
acted  upon  this  rule  in  the  organization  of  the  two  regi- 
ments of  the  State  Line,  composed  of  persons  of  all  ages 
able  to  do  service  who  volunteered.  Her  right  to  keep 
these  troops  has  never  been  questioned  by  the  Confederate, 
Government,  nor  indeed  can  it  be. 

That  portion  of  the  militia  organization  not  composed  of 
Confederate  exempts  are  generally  of  the  most  useful  class 
Bgricalturiits,  whose  services  at  home  during  the  more 
critical  period  of  the  Crop,  are  indispensably  necessary  to 
the  production  of  supplies..  Whenever  these  men  can  be 
spared  from  home  they  should  be  kept  in  service,  if  the 
irgency  require  it.  But  they  should  not  be  turned  over 
to  unlimited  Confederate  control  to  be  carried  away  from 
the  State  permanently,  to  the  ruin  of  her  material  aj»d  pro- 
ductive interests.  So  long  as  they  faithfully  discharge  their 
duty  when  called  out,    the  State  should  keep  them,  giving 


u  furloughs  at  such  times   as  nr->  necessary    t< 

their  crops,  if  it  can  posibly  he  ^ow.  Aii  who  arc  ibseol 
without  leave,  when  ordered  out  by  the.  Slate,  >liou].l  'i, 
turnod  over  to  Co  cviee  J«>r  the  war  withot 

gard  to  rank  or  Bge.  This  would  stimulate  them  to  ]  r< 
obedience   to    orders  when    failed.     The  chief  difficulty  in 
the  way  of  granting  furloughs  for  Limited  periods  whei 

troops  could  he  sjmred,     grow*    out    of    the    fact    that  they 

often  fail  to  respond  promptly  at  the  end  of  the  time  al- 
lowed them. 

On  the  30th  of  August  last,  when  the  militia  under  the 
command  of  MsjOivGeneral  G.  W.  Smith,  were  in  tin* 
trenches  around  Atlanta,  a  ren  short  time  before  the  fall 
of  the  oily,  the  President  made  a  requisition  upon  me 
lor  them  with  all  others  that  I  might  be  able  to  organize. 
At  the  time  the  requisition  was  made  these  troops  had  been 
for  months  in  active  service  with  the  Army  of  Tonnes 
under  the  command  of  the  General  who  controlled  it.  They 
bad  participated  in  several  engagements — had  acted  with 
distinguished  gallantry;  and  had  been  about  forty  days 
almost  constantly  under  lire  around  the  city.  Rations  were 
issued  to  them  by  order  of  the  Confederate  General  in  com- 
mand— and  he  had  promised  that  they  b!  itild  he  paid  as 
other  troops  in  the  Confederate  service. 

These  troops  were  composed  mostly  of  hoys  betweeu 
sixteen  and  seventeen  and  old  men  between  fifty  and  lil'tv- 
iivc  years  of  age,  who  are  no;  subject  to  service  by  the  laws 
of  Congress,  in  the  army  of  the  Confederacy.  No  law  of 
Congress  makes  them  in  ai  y  way  subject  to  the  President's 
control.  The  statnte  of  the  State  declares  positively  that 
they  shall  not  be  subject  to  any  draft  or  compulsory  pre 
to  ii!l  any  requisition  made  by  the  President  of  the  Confed- 
erate States  upon  the  Governor  of  the  State.    They  *vere 

the   last    reserve   force    of  the  Stale  able  to  do  sendee,      If 

they  were  turned  over  to  Confederate  control  with  no- 
power  on  the  part  of  the  Slate  to  recall  them.  BUS  would  be 

without  any  adequate   force  for  the  execution  of  bar 
•wn  laws. 
The  State  had  much  more  than  filled  every  requisition 

made  upon  her  in  common  with  other  States  for  troops. 
No  call  was  made  at  the  time  upon  the  other  States  for 
troops  of  this  class;  nor  had  the  other  States  ordered  out 
and  placed  in  service  their  militia  of  these  ages. 

It  was  quite  clear  that  the  requisition  was  not  made  for 
the  purpose  of  getting  the  militia  into  service,  for  they 
were  there  at  the  time  under  the  command  of  General 
Hood.  Looking  at  all  these  facts  I  could  not  doubt  that 
the  President  had  other  motives  in  making  the  call — and 
that  the  main  object  was  to  get  them  out  of  the  coutrol  of 
the  State,  subject  to  his  command,  and  to  disband  the  State 


organizations,  and  enable  him  to  appoint  the  General  and 
Field  Officers  to  command  them.  This  was  the  more  evi- 
dent from  the  fact  that  he  required  all  within  General 
Hood's  department  to  report  to  him  at  Atlanta,  and  all 
those  within  the  department  of  South  Carolina  and  Geor- 
gia, to  report  to  the  commandaiTt  of  that  department, 
whose  headquarters  were  then  at  Charleston.  The  line  di- 
viding these  two  departments  cuts  in  two,  not  only  Genera. 
Smith's  Division,  but  three  out  of  four  Brigades  and  a  large 
proportion  of  the  Regiments.  If  the  requisition  had  been 
obeyed  the  organization  would  have  been  disbanded,  and  a. 
large  proportion  of  the  militia,  who  were  then  under  the  fire 
of  the  enemy,  defending  Atlanta,  Would  have  been  ordered 
oft' 10  report  to  General  Jones  at  Charleston,  when  no  ene- 
aiy  was  piessing  us  upon  the  coast. 

Under  these  circumstances,  I  felt  it  my  duty  to  refuse  to 
lill  a  requisition  made  by  the  President,  without  authority 
of  law,  for  a  class  of  troops  which  I  could  not  turn  over  up- 
on his  requisition  without  a  violation  of  a  positive  statute 
of  the  State,  who  were  in  service,  acting  gallantly  at  the 
time,  under  officers  of  distinguished  merit,  with  a  thorough 
organization,  which  must  have  been  disbanded  by  my  com- 
pliance with  the  President's  demand,  and  the  troops  scat- 
tered at  a  most  critical  period  in  the  deieuce  of  Atlanta. 

1  earnestly  request  the  General  Assembly  to  say,  by  reso- 
lution, whether  my  conduct  in  refusing  to  turn  over  the 
reeerve  militia,  organized  by  the  State  for  her  owe  defence,, 
is  approved,  or  whether  it  shall  yet  be  done,  and  the  State 
stripped  of  her  last  strength,  and  left  without  a  man  to  aid 
in  the  execution  of  her  laws,  and  to  strike  a  blow  in  hei 
defence  when  Confederate  aid  is  withdrawn,  and  the  ene- 
my devastating  her  fields,  towns  and  cities. 

THE    GEORGIA    MILITARY  INSTITUTE. 

The  number  of  cadets  in  this  institution  has  been  con- 
siderably increased. 

Upon  the  advance  of  Sherman's  army  the  battalion  of 
•adets  was  ordered  into  active  service.  At  the  Oconee 
bridge  and  other  places  where  they  met  the  enemy  they 
acted  with  distinguished  gallantry.  The  State  has  much 
reason  to  be  proud  of  this  gallant  young  corps. 

I  must  not  omit  to  mention  with  my  warmest  approba- 
tion the  conduct  of  the  State  Scouts  under  Captain  Talbot, 
who  has  shown  himself  to  be  a  gallant,  fearless  leader. 

Prudeu's  Artillery  and  the  other  troops  o\'  Major  Caper's 
battalion,  are  also  entitled  to  honorable  notice.  This  whole 
battalion  under  its  chivalrous  leader,  in  presence  of  Adju- 
tant and  Inspector  General  Wayne,  who  accompanied  their, 
daring  the  campaign  from  Gordon  to  Savannah  and  thence  ■ 
to  Augusta,  discharged   their  duty  energetically  and  faith-- 


8 

fully.  The  report  si  General  Wayne  will  be  laid  before  tlie 
Military  Committee  of  the  two  Houses  upoQ  application. 

MTAKY    AIM  'Kill  HIATION. 

1  beg  leave  again  most  respectfully  to  invite  the  atten- 
tion of  the  General  Assembly  to  that  part  of  my  Kite  annua! 
message  which  relates  to  the  military  appropriation.  The 
sum  appropriated  will  be  wholly  inadequate.  It  it  is  not 
increased,  1  shall  be  under  the^apleasantrieceaaity,  so  soon 
as  it  in  exhausted,  whith  will  be  in  a  short  time,  of  again 
convening  jrdu  fo  BUppJy  the  deficiency.  We  can  not  i 
duct  the  operations  I  r  war  without  money. 

lAii'IIKss.MKN'lS. 

I  bee  lt'ave  to  e.ill  the  attention  of  the  Legislature  to  the 
necessity  fcr  the  passage  o!  a  law  authorizing the  irapt 
ment  of  provision-  in  the  hands  of  persons  under  bonds  t-> 
the  Confederate  Government,  or  others  who  r*faB6  to  Bell 
their  surplus  at  market  value  for  t;:<*  use  of  indigent  sol- 
diers' families,  and  6i  persons  who  are  left,  destilute  by  the 
ravages  of  the  1 1  en  - .  ur  oil  our  own  cavalry,  who  receive 
aid  from   the  State,   under  the  legislation  enacted  for  that 

purpose.  The  OaaeJ  are.  very  rare  where  it  would  he  i,, 
s;irv  to  resort  to  iropreaBment  if  the  peo]  U  were  left  tree 
to  "sell  their  surplus  in  the  market;  but  I  hey  are  denied 
that  privilege  bv  the  Confederate  ( iovernment,  having 
been  compelled  to  give  bond  to  sell  all  their  surplus  to  ififi 
agents  at  schedule  prices,  which  are  tar  below  market  value. 
These  persons  would  gladly  sell  to  State  or  county  agents, 
but  thev  are  threatened  wii  h  a  revocation  of  their  details, 
and  with  iuimi  diate  compulsion  to  enter  service  if  they  do 
so.  The  Slate  should  ue\  er  submit  to  be  driven  out  of  her 
own  markets  and  denied  the  privilege  of  purchasing  from 
her  own  citizens  by  the  act  of  Bliy  other  government  or 
power.  I  therefore  recommend  the  passage  6f  a  law  au- 
thm-i/ini:  the  Justices  Of  the  Inferior  Conn  of  each  county, 
With  the  consent  or  order  of  tin-  Gov<  rnor,  to  impros  pro- 
visions in  their  respective  counties,  for  soldiers'  families  and 
indigent  relumes,  when,  from  the  cau.se  above  mentioned, 
it  may  be  necessary  to  enable  them  to  procure  the  supplies 
required  for  t'uat  purpose  ;  and  also  authorizing  the  (Quar- 
termaster General  and  Commissary  General  ot  the  State  to 
make  similar  impressments,  with  the*  like  order,  lor  their 
respect  be  depart  iiicnis. 

The  act  should  provide,  in  C»Se  o!  such  impressments,  for 
a  fair  valuation  of  the  property  impressed,  and  for  payment 
of  market  value  as  just  compensation  to  the  owner.  With- 
out the  passage  pf  this  act,  it  will  be  impossible  for  the 
State  and  county  age***,  within  the  limits  of  the  State,  to 
purchase  the  supplies  which  are  indispensable. 

The    appropriation  Of    money  will    avail   nothing  if  the 


9 

Confederate  agents  can  lock  the  cribs  and  smoke-houses  of 
the  people  of  the  State  against  her  purchasing  agents.  I 
have  been  unable,  under  the  late  appropriation,  to  supply 
the  demands  of  those  in  great  distress,  for  want  of  this  law. 
If  it  is  not  passed,  a  great  deal  of  suffering  will  be  the  in- 
evitable result, 

TtlNITKXTIARY. 

The  enemy  having  destroyed  the  workshops,  ceil  build- 
ings, to.,  of  this  Institution  by  tire,  it  will  cost  a  very  heavy 
appropriation,  probably  one  million  of  dollars,  in  currency, 
lo  rebuild  it.  From  seven  years  close  observation,  I  am 
satisfied  the  Institution  does  not  serve  the  objects  for  which 
it  was  created.  It  does  not  seem  to  be,  as  its  name  imports, 
a  place  of  penitence  ;  it  is  certainly  not  a  place  of  reforma- 
tion, but  is  ruther  a  school  for  theft,  lawlessness  and  villa- 
!.v,  where  those  more  hardened  in  crime  act  as  teachers  of 
those  who  are  younger  and  of  less  experience.  Honest 
men  who,  in  the  heat  of  passion,  commit  crime  which  con- 
signs litem,  under  our  present  laws,  to  this  den  of  thieves, 
generally  come  out  corrupted  and  contaminated. 

In  vjevy  of  the  above  fuet>.,  I  recommend  that  the  Peni- 
tentiary bo  abolished  as  soon  as  it  can  legally  be  done,  and 
that  other  modes  of  punishment,  such  as  hanging,  whipping, 
branding,  &e.,  be  substituted.  The  South  Carolina  code,  it 
is  believed,  would  furnish  a  safe  guide  for  our  legislation 
on  this  subject.  I  know  of  no  State  in  which  the  criminal 
laws  are  more  faithfully  executed,  or  in  which  less  crime  is 
'•ommured. 

In  accordance  with  the  request  of  the  General  Assembly 
before  you r; lata  adjournment,  I  offered  pardon  to  all  the 
convicts  who  were  not  of  the  worst  class,  who  would  volun- 
teer to  enter  the  military  service,  making  the  pardon  con- 
dititioual  on  the  faithful  discharge  of  their  duties  assolniers. 
This  was  accepted  by  nearly  all  to  whom  it  was  tendered. 
Tliey  organized  into  a  company  and  did  good  service  at  the 
Oconee  River,  where  they  met  the  enemy  and  acted  gallant- 
ly. I  regret  to  learn,  however,  that  over  half  of  them 
since  deserted.  These  will  be  subject  to  serve  out 
Tiicir  time  when  they  can  be  arrested.  There  are  also  sev- 
«;■.»!  life  convicts  now  within  the  walls  ;  to  keep  these  and 
Mich  ;is  may  be  hereafter  sentenced  for  crime  committed  be- 
fore the  change  of  the  mode  of  punishment,  it  will  be  nec- 
essary lo  relMiiM  so  far  as  to  provide  accommodations  and- 
work  shops  for  a  limited  number.  One  hundred  thousand 
dollars  in  currency  may  be  sufficient  to  do  this. 

In  this  connection  I  will  further  remark  that  the    exigen- 
ces, in  my  opinion,  require  such  amendments 
iu  the  penal  code  as    will    make  Death  the   punishment  ot 
robbery,  burglary  and  horse  stealing.     To  prevent  our  peo- 
ple from    taking  the    execution  of  the  law  into  their  own 


10 

kand.*.  I  recommend  that  the  law  be  so   changed  as    to  au- 
thorize th»»  Judges  «»t  the  Superioi  Courts  to  call  extra 
I       -   <»t    their   respect  i\  i'  BOIfrtB,   Whenever    it  is,    if)  their 
•pinion,  iiMTssiry   for  the   Rpeedy  trial  of  offenders.    A>< 
many  of  thejailstre  iriaecare,andas  robber  bands  often  fescue 
companions  in  crime,  the  preaenl  provisions  for  the 
of  criminals  are  toe?  tardy  lor  the  vindication   of  public 
justice.     Whipping  should  be  the  punishment  inflicted  uj»- 
an  titose  who  are  convicted  of  illegal  traffic  with  slaves. 
akmi.m;    i  BE   SLA 

The  administration,  by  its  unfortunate   policy,  having 

•  ed  our  strength  and  reduced  our  armies,  and  being  una- 
ble to  LTtt  freemen  into  tbe  field  as  conscripts,  sod  unwil- 
to  accept  them  in  organizations  with  officers  of  their 
own  choice,  will,  it  is  believed,  booh  resort  ti-  the  policy  of 
filling  them  dp  by  the  conscription  of  slaves. 

1  am  satisfied  that  we  may  profitably  use  slave  labor,  so 
f.-ir  as  it  can  be  spared  from  agriculture,  to  do  menial  service 
in  connection  with  the  army,  and  thereby  enable  more  free 
white  men  to  take  up  :inns;  but  I  am  quite  sure  any  at- 
tempt to  arm  the. slaves  will  be  a  great  error.  If  Ire  expect 
to  continue  the  war  Bueeessfully,  we  are  obliged  to  have  the 
iabor  ot  most  of  them  in  the  production  of  provisions. 

Rut  if  this  difficulty  were  in r mounted;  we  can  not  rely 
upon  them  as  soldiers.  They  are  now  quietly  lervingtttat 
home,  beeattSethey  do  not  wish  tO go  into  the  army,  and  they 
(ear,  if  they  leave  us,  the  enemy  will  put  them  there,  ll 
we  Compel  them  to  take  up  arms,  their  wind*'  feeling  nnd 
conduct  will  change,  and  they  will  leave  us  by  thousands. 
A  -ingle  proclamation]  by  President  Lincoln — that  nil  who 
will  desert  us  after  they  are  forced  into  lervice,  and  go  6v<  r 

To  him,  shall  have  their  freedom,  he  taken  out  ol  the  army, 
ami  permitted  to  go  into  the  country  in  his  posses-ion,  and 
reC(  ive  Wftgefl  fur  their  labor — would  dhlband  them  by  brig- 
ades. Whatever  may  be  our  opinion  of  their  normal  condi- 
lio;i  or  their  true  interest,  we  can  not  expect  them,  if  they 
remain  with  us,  io  perform  deeds  Of  heroic  valor,  when- they 
are  fighting  to  continue  the  enslavement  of  their  wives  and 
children.  It  is  not  reasonable  for  Us  to  demand  it  of  them. 
and  we  have  little  cause  to  expect  the  bfestingfl  of  Heaven 
upon  our  efforts  if  we  compel  them  to  perform  such  a  ta«k. 

If  we  are  right. -md  Providence  designed  them  for  slavery, 
He  did  not  intend  that  they  should  be  a  military  people. 
Whenever  we  establish  the  fact  that  they  are  a  military 
race,  we  destroy  our  whole  theory  that  they  are  unfit  to  be 
free. 

But  it  is  said  we  should  give  them  their  freedom  in  «ftee 
•f  their  fidelity  to  our  cause  in  the  field  ;  in  other  words, 
that  we  should  give  up  slavery,  as  well  as  our  personal  lib- 
erty and  State  sovereignty,  for  independence,  and  should  set 


li 

all  our  slaves  free  if  they  will  aid  us  to  achieve  it.  Jf  we 
are  ready  to  give  up  slavery,  I  am  satisfied  we  can  make  it 
the  consideration  for  a  better  trade  than  to  give  it  for  the 
uncertain  aid  which  they  might  afford  us  in  the  military 
keld.  When  we  arm  the  slaves,  we  abandon  slavery.  We 
can  never  again  govern  them  as  slaves,  and  make  the  insti 
tution  profitable  to  ourselves  or  to  them,  after  tens  of  thou- 
sands of  them  have  been  taught  the  use  ©f  arms,  and  spent 
years  in  the  indolent,  indigencies  of  camp  life. 

If  the  General  Assembly  should  adopt  my  recommenda 
tion  hereinafter  contained  for  the   call   of  a  Convention,  J 
would  suggest  that  this  too  would  be  a  subject  deservipg  its 
serious  consideration  and  decided  action. 

It  can  never  be  admitted  by  the  State  that  the  Confecb  - 
rate  Government  has  any  power  directly  or  indirectly  to 
abolish  slavery.  The  provision  in  the  Constitution  which 
by  implication  authorizes  the  Confederate  Government  to 
take  private  property  for  public  use  only  authorizes  the  use 
of  the  property  during  the  existence  of  the  emergency  which 
justifies  the  taking;  To  illustrate  :  In  time  of  war  it  may 
be  necessary  for  the  Government  to  take  from  a  citizen  a 
business  house  to  hold  commissary  stores.  This  it  may  do 
(if a  suitable  one  cannot  be  had  by  contract)  on  payment  to 
the  owner  of  just  compensation  for  the  use  of  the  house. 
But  this  taking  cannot  change  the  title  of  the  land,  and  vest 
it  in  the  government.  Whenever  the  emergency  has  passed, 
the  Government;  can  no  longer  legally  hold  the  house,  but  is 
bound  to  return  it  to  the  owner.  So  the  Government  mav- 
impress  slaves  to  do  the  labor  of  servants,  as  to  fortify  a 
•ity,  if  it  cannot  obtain  them  by  contract,  and  it  is  bound  to 
pay  the  owner  just  hire  for  the  time  it  uses  them.  But  the 
impressment  eari  vest  no  title  to  the  slave  in  the  Govern- 
ment for  a  longer  period  than  the  emergency  requires  the 
labor.  It  has  not  the  shadow  of  right  to  impress  and  pay 
for  a  slave  to  set  him  free.  The  moment  it  ceases  to  need  his 
labor  the  use  reverts  to  the  owner  who  has  the  title.  If  we 
admit  the  right  of  the  Government  to  impress  and  pay  for 
slaves  to  free  them  we  concede  its  power  to  abolish  slavery, 
and  change  our  domestic  institutions  at  its  pleasure,  and  to  . 
tax  us  to  raise  the  money  for  that  purpose.  lam  not  aware 
of  the  advocacy  of  such  a  monstrous  doctrine  in  the  old 
Congress  by  any  one  of  the  more  rational  class  of  abolition- 
ists. It  certainly  never  found  an  advocate  in  any  Southern 
statesman. 

No  slave  can  ever  be  liberated  by  the  Confederate  Gov- 
ernment without  the  consent  of  the  States.  No  such  con- 
sent can  ever  be  given  by  this  State  without  a  previous  al- 
teration of  her  Constitution.  And  no  such  alteration  can 
be  made  without  a  convention  of  her  people. 


12 

orit  tlttUN  and  9WD8PBC1 i\  I  co\i>ri  ion. 

As  1  feel  fhat  I  ihould  act  the  part  of  an  unfaithful  sen- 
tinel upon  the  watch  tower  if  I  ihould  flatter  the  eounfry 
witli  delusive  hopes  candor  compels  me  t<>  say  that  all  is 
not  well.    Tlat  the  pi  opte  may  Be  aroused  to  the  necessary 

effort  to  avert  Calamity,  it  is  important  that  they  should 
know  ;, ml  appreciate  their  true  condition.  I  t *  11  them. 
therefore,  thai  the  whole  body  politic  in  diseased,  and  un- 
it 19  Bctii  e  r<  11  edies  are  administer*  d  speedily,  that  dissotu- 
d  and  death  musl  be  the  iri<  vi table  result. 
'Mir  constitution  has  been  violated  and  trampled  under 
foot,  and  the  rights  ami  sovereignty  of  the  States,  which 
had  been  disregarded  by  the  I  iovemmmt  of  the  United 
States,  which  formed  with  shivery  the  very  foundation  of 
the  movement  that  brought  into  being  the  Confederate 
Government,  have  been  prostrated  and  almost  destroyed  by 
Confederate  congressional  encroachment  and  executive  usur- 
pation 

The  resolutions  of  the  General  Assembly  of  this  State  pro- 
testing against  these  usurpations  ami  abuses  have  been  un- 
heeded Btiti  laid  bside  without  even  the  courtesy  ofa  reply. 
Direct  taxes  of  mormons  burden    have    been    levied   b) 
-.  without  the  census  pr  enumeration   imperatively 
lired  by  the  constitution,  which  operate  upon  the  peo- 
ple of  this  and  other  States,  but  have  uo  operation  upon  the 
people  of  Missouri  or  Kentucky,  who  are  represented  equal- 
ly with  Georgia  in  the  Congress  by  which  they  are  im- 
posed. 

Much  of  our  mo$t  objectionable  legislation  is  fastened  up- 
on US  by  the  votes  of  repn  sentatives  who,  however  pat  I  iQt- 
ic  and  true  to  our  cause,  <aet  without  responsibility  to  any 
tituency,  out  of  the  army,  who  can  be  affected  thereby. 
and  who  can  neither  visit  with  safety,  nor  show  then. selves 
publicly  among  the  people  whom  tbey  profess  to  represent, 
a  majority  of  whom  have  given  the  strongest  evidences  ol 
sympathy  and  support  to  the  Government  of  the  Unite. I 
states,  and  have  been  constantly  represented  in  the  Con- 
gress ol  those  Slates. 

Impressments  of  private  property  lor  public  use,  which 
are  often  necessary  and  proper,  have  been  carried  to  an  ex- 
tent which  is  tyrannical  and  oppressive  in  the  extreme.  In- 
I  ol  purchase  as  the  rule  and  impressment  the  excep- 
tion, the  whole  properly  of  our  people  is  placed  under  the 
control  of  impressment  agepts,  who  refuse  to  pay  "just 
compensation,"  as  required  by  the  constitution,  or  even  half 
the  market,  value,  and  who  pay  in  certificates  which  the 
government  refuses  to  receive  in  payment  of  public  dues. 

By  a  pretended  conscription,  not  authorized  by  the  con- 
stitution, the  government  ban  placed  our  agriculturalists 
under  heavy  bonds  to  sell  to  it  at  the  impressment  price* 


IS 

fixed  by  its  Agents,  and  denies  to  them  the  privilege  to  sell 
the  fruits  of  their  labor  in  open  market,  or  to  exchange  them 
for  other  commodities  which  are  necessary  to  the  support  of 
themselves  and  their  families. 

The  Government  disregards  that  provision  of  the  Consti- 
tution which  prohibits  Congress  from  making  any  appro- 
priation of  money  for  a  linger  term  than  two  years  to  sup- 
port the  armies  of  the  Confederacy,  and  as  a  means  of  per- 
petuating the  war  beyond  the  period  of  the  existence  of  the 
present  Congress,  without  the  assent  of  the  people  in  the 
next  elections,  it  proposes  to  pledge  the  tithe  qf  the  more 
valuable  annual  productions  of  the  agricultural  class  of  our 
people,  who  are  selected  for  the  burden,  for  years  to  come 
lor  that  purpose,  and  to  continue  the  pledge  of  the  incomes 
of  this  particular  class  after  the  termination  of  the  war,  for 
the  payment  of  the  Treasury  notes  issued  for  the  support  of 
the  armies  during  its  existence.  Few  of  this  class  make 
more  than  a  tithe  as  net  profits.  In  the  estimate  of  the 
Secretary  ofthe  Treasury  in  which  he  sets  down  the  incomes 
of  this  class  at  about  fifty  per  cent,  he  fails  to  allow  any 
credit  for  the  vast  expense  of  production.  He  estimates 
gross  and  not  net  incomes,  and  in  this  way  shows  the  in- 
comes ofthe  planter  to  be  much  greater  than  those  ofthe 
banker  or  money-holder,  whose  interest  and  dividends  cost 
none  of  the  iabor  and  expense  of  production  incurred  by  the 
planter. 

Citizens  who  belong  neither  to  the  land  nor  naval  forces 
ofthe  government,  or  to  the  militia  in  actual  service,  are 
arrested  by  provost  guards  and  government  detectives,  un- 
der charges  of  treason  or  other  indictable  oiFences,  or  dis- 
loyalty, without  warrant  or  other  process  from  the  courts, 
and  imprisoned  at  the  pleasure  ofthe  government  in  open 
disregard  of  the  constitution,  which  declares  that  no  such 
person  shall  be  held  to  answer  for  a  capital  or  otherwise  iu- 
famous  crime,  unless  on  a  presentment  or  indictment  of  a 
grand  jury,  nor  be  deprived  of  life,  liberty  or  property, 
without  due  process  of  law,  and  that  no  warrant  shall  issue 
but  upon  probable  cause,  supported  by  oath  or  affirmation, 
particularly  describing  the  persons  or  things  to  be  seized. 

Good  and  loyal  citizens,  who  travel  on  railroads  or  steam- 
boats, or  through  towns  and  cities,  upon  lawful  business, 
are  arrested  if  they  fail  to  carry  passes,  while  federal  spies 
procure  or  forge  passes,  and  travel  over  our  thoroughfares 
at  their  pleasure. 

In  many  parts  ofthe  Confederacy,  not  in  possession  ofthe 
enemy,  the  government  has  ceased  to  protect  either  life  or 
property,  and  its  own  soldiers,  who  have  left  the  front  with- 
out discipline  or  control,  often,  united  with  others  profes- 
sing to  be  in  service  and  wearing  the  dress  of  the  soldier, 
are  passing  over  the  country  in  numerous  bands,  robbing 
our  citizens  and  destroying  their  property. 


W 

While  the  old  men  tod  boys  of  this  Stat*,  Seating  im- 
mt  bosne-ioteretts  to  Buffer,  have  been  obliged  lb  take 
up  arms  to  resist  the  enemy,  thousands  of  j'ntftig  able-hod- 
ied  men  of  this  and  other  States,  between  eighteen  and  for- 
oJ  Bgie,  are  protected   by  Coi  authori- 

ty, on  accounl  tit their  wealth  or  other  influence,  hroYn  ser- 
vice in  the  field,  and  miller  pretest  of  son  <■  1 1  - :  ■  j :  i :  i  *  enVpJoy- 

mei.i  for  the  government ,  are  allowed  to  remain  out  of    f!  e 
.     i  of  danger,  and  devote  most  oi  thei:  tine  to  their  v 

illations  or  other  individual  pursuits. 
Our  financial  affairs  have  beeu  so  unfortunately  admifcto- 

i  that  OUS  eurietiey  is  worth  very  little  in  the  nwnket  ; 
and  our  public  faith  H«  benil   -'>  frequently  and  wilfully  vio- 

.  that  it.  will  be  with  great  difficulty  thai  we  can  re-fn- 
■  >>ur  people  with  confidence  in  the  pledges  of  the  gov- 
ernment.   It  is  Bhnounoed  as  the  future  policy  of  tiie  Boah- 
cial department  to  iesue  no  more  Treasury  notes,  and  to  re-, 
e  nothing  else  in  payment  of  public  dues  till  the1  nmm- 
-  reduced  to  healthy  eireulat  iotl.      This  would  he  I  . 
licial  to  the  holders  of  the  notes.      As  the  armies  are  to  be 
supported,  however,  at  a  Cost  ol  hundreds  of  millions  of  dbl- 
lars  per  annum,  the  announcement  leai  >iit>1  thai  if  is 

to  be  done  it)  a  great  measure  by  sei/ine;  property  and  pay- 
inir'for  it  in  certificates  <>r  bonds  which  u  ill  not  pass  as  «'ur- 
rency  or  in  payment  of  taxes.  This  would  be  little  better 
than  legalized  robbery,  and  if  practiced  long  by  any  govern- 
ment will  drive  the  people  to  revolution  as  the  only  mean* 

of  throwing  off  intolerable  burdens. 

P>y  its  effort  to  grain  absolute  power,  (he  Confederate  ad- 
ministration has  greatly  weakened  our  armies  ;  and  result* 
have  shown  its  utter  inability,  with  all  the  power  pl:'ce»J 
in  its  hands,  to  recruit  and  fill  them  up  to  a  number  stiffi- 
rirnt  to  meet  the  emergency. 

So  fatal  have  been  the  results  of  «ur  wretched  CO\  SCrrp- 
lion  policy,  which,  however  well  adapted  to  control  Knro- 
pean  serfs,  or  those  raised  to  he  slaves  of  power,  is  so  repug- 
nant to  the  feelings  and  spirit  of  a  free  people,  that  it  has 
driven  our  men  in  despair  to  delinquency  and  desertion,  till 

the  President  has  informed  the  country  in  his  Mason  speech, 
as  reported,  that  two-thirds  of"  those  who  compose  our  ar- 
mies are  absent,  most  of  them  without  leave.  If  this  be 
true,  it  shows  a  lamentable  want  of  patriotism  and  courage 
on  the  part  of  the  people,  orau  unwise  and  injudicious  poli- 
cy on  t,he  part  of  the  administration,  which  imperils  the 
very  existence  ol  the  Confederacy,  and  calls  for,  prompt  and 
energetic  action  on  the  part  01  the  people  to  compel  a 
change  of  polir-y,  which,  if  longer  persisted  in,  must  result; 
in  utter  ruin. 

If  a  planter  who  has  one  hundred  faithful,  trustworthy- 
hands  upon  his  farm  should  employ  an  overseer  to  manage 
it,  and  should  visit  it  at  a  critical  period  of  the  crop,  aud 


1*5  , 

find  that  two-thirds  of  his  hands  are,  and  for  a  considerable 
time  have  been  absent,  and  that  the  crop  is  being  lost  oa 
that  account,  he  would  doubtless  deside  that  the  policy  of 
the  overseer  was  ruinous  to  his  interest,  and  dismiss  hiia 
without  hesitation.  The  people  of  this  Confederacy  have 
employed  an  agent  to  conduct  for  them  a  war  for  the  dear- 
Mi  rights  of  freedom,  and  have  placed  at  his  command,  sub- 
ject to  the  restraints  thrown  around  him  by  the  constitu- 
rional  charter,  and  the  great  principles  of  personal  liberty 
which  lie  at  the  foundation  of  free  government,  hundreds  of 
thousands  of  as  gallant  self-sacrificing  citizen-soldiers  as  ev- 
et  took  up  arms  in  a  righteous  cause.  He  has  adopted  a 
policy  which  has  ignored  personal  liberty  and  the  rights  of 
citizen  soldiers  to  go  to  the  held  in  organizations  and  under 
officers  of  their  own  choice,  who  have  their  respect  and  con- 
fidence. The  result  has  been  as  our  agent  tells  us,  that 
two-thirds  of  these  soldiers  are  absent,  the  larger  portion 
without  leave,  at  a  time  when  their  absence  endangers  our 
existence  as  a  people.  What  then  is  the  duty  of  the  people 
of  these  States/  The  answer  is  plain.  They  should  com- 
pel their  agent  to  change  his  policy  which  treats  tree  citizen 
soldierB  lighting  for  liberty  as  serfs,  and  to  observe  the  great 
principles  for  which  we  took,  up  arms,  pr  they  should  re- 
sume the  military  powers  with  which  they  have  clothed 
him.  and  place  them  in  other  hands  where  they  will  be  used 
ft*  well  for  the  protection  of  the  rights  and  liberties  of  the 
citizen  as  for  the  achievement  of  the  independence  of  the 
Confederacy.  Without  this  change  of  policy  the  r.rraie* 
cannot  he  recruited  to  the  necessary  number  and  both  lib- 
erty and  independence  are  lost  together. 

This  ruinous  policy  of  the  administration  find.-*  no  jus- 
tification in  the  constitution  of  the  country.  From  the 
organization  of  the  Government  of  the  United  States  to  th« 
disruption  of  the  Union,  the  uniform  practice  was  to  call 
upon  the  States,  when  mare  troops  than  the  regular  army 
were  needed,  to  furnish  them  organized  ready  for  service. 
This  they  could  readily  do,  as  all  the  machinery  of  the 
State  Government  could  be  brought  to  bear  to  bring  them 
out.  Instead  of  enrolling  officers  of  the  central  govern- 
ment imported  among  them,  whom  they  knew  not  and  who 
were  not  in  sympathy  with  them,  all  the  militia  officers  and 
civil  olficers  of  the  counties  who  are  their  neighbo's  and 
friends,  and  whom  they  are  accustomed  to  respect  and  obev, 
could  be  charged  with  the  duty  of  aiding  in  the  organiza- 
tion. Not  only  so,  but  they  were  permitted  to  go  under 
officers  of  their  own  neighborhoods  usually  elected  by  them, 
and  to  go  with  their  own  neighbors  and  relatives  as  their 
'associates  and  companions  in  arms.  This  was  not  only  the 
practical  and  successful  mode,  but  it  was  the  constitutional 
one.     That  instrument  declares  that  Congress  shall   have 


16 

powtr  to  provide  for  organizing,  arming  and  disciplining 
the  militia,  and  tor  governing  such  part  o(  them  as  may  bo 
employed  in  the  service  of  the  Confederate  State- 
inr  to  the  States  re*j>rr(urly  !  \t  appointment  "/  the  olfurr.*,  am! 
tke  authority  of  training  the  militia  according  to  the  dis- 
cipline prescribed  by  Congress. 

Pending  the  consideration  of  this  pjeegwph  in  the  Con- 
vention which  formed  the  Constitution  of  tin  United  .~tate«, 
Mr.  Madison  moved  to  amend  it  by  imertirg  alter  the  words 
"reserving  to  the  States  respectively  ilie  appointment  tf 
the  officers,"  the  words  "under  the  rank  of  Geueral  officers." 
This  amendment,  if  adopted,  would  havr  led  the  States  ko 
appoint  all  officers  under  the  rank  of  General,  ami  the  Fed- 
eral Government  to  appoint  the  Generals.  lint  so  jealous 
were  the  States  of  the  powei  and  patronage  v.hieh  this 
would  have  given  to  the  Federal  Executive,  that  they  re- 
jected it  by  the  vote  of  all  the  States  except  two  ;  ami  re- 
served to  the  States  the  appointment  of  all  the  officers  to 
command  the  militia,  when  employed  in  the  service  of  the 
United  States.  Ami  lest  there  should  be  a  question  about 
who  is  meant  by  the  militia  to  be  comm.-imled  by  officers 
appointed  by  the  States,  when  employed  in  the  seme 
the  Confederate  States,  the  Constitution  has  solved  thai 
doubt.     It  says: 

"  A  well  regulated  militia  being  necessary  to  the  security 
of  a  free  State,  the  right  of  the  people  to  keep  and  bear 
arms  shall  not  be  infringed."  Hence  it  is  plain  that  the 
word  militia  and  the  word  frWpU  mean  the  same,  apply  to 
the  same  persons,  and  are  used  as  synoiiomous  terms.  Jt  it 
clear,  therefore,  that  the  States  hnve  carefully  reserved  the 
appointment  of  the  oflicers  to  command  their  arms- bearing 
people,  when  employed  in   the   service  of  the  Confederate 

States. 

If  the  President  had  adhered  to  this  mode  of  raising 
troops,  as  Mr.  Madison,  who  was  a  prominent  member  of 
the  Convention  which  framed  the  Constitution,  did  in  the 
war  of  1S12,  his  patronage  in  the  army  would  have  beet' 
small.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  the  constitutional  mode  were 
laid  aside,  and  conscription  adapted  in  lieu  of  it,  giving 
him  the  appointment  of  all  the  officers,  his  patronage  was 

immense. 

It  is  said  about  six  hundred  regiments,  or  enough  of  or- 
ganized troops  to  make  that  Dumber,  have  been  received 
into  Confederate  service  from  all  the  States.  Each  regi- 
ment has  ten  companies,  and  each  company  four  commis- 
sioned officers,  or  fotry  company  officers  to  each  regiment. 
making  twailfjfrmr  thousand  company  officers.  Add  to  this 
(500  Colonels,  and  as  many  I/ieut.  Colonels,  Majors,  Adju- 
tants, Quartermasters  and  r  ■nmissaries,  (as  the  law  llien 
stood,)  together  with   all   (  bapiaina,  Surgeons,  Brigadi 


17 

General*,  Major  Generate,  Lieutenant  Generals;  with  all 

the  Post  Quartenf! asters,  commissaries,  Commandants,  Ad- 
jutants, Marshals,  &c,  etc.,  and  the  conscript  act  made 
about  80,000  officers  dependent  upon  Ihe  President's  will 
for  promotion.  Thus,  in  violation  of  the  Constitution,  the 
President  was  substituted  for  the  States,  and,  like  the  King 
of  England,  made  the  foundation  of  all  honor. 

To  carry  out  this  new  policy  of  allowing  the  President 
to  appoint  the  officers,  it  became  necessary  to  refuse  longer 
to  receive  troops  in  organized  bodies  with  their  officers,  but 
each  must  be  conscribed  and  sent  into  service  under  such 
officers  as  the  President  might  appoint.  This  separated 
kindred  and  friends  and  neighbors,  while  in  service.  It  de- 
stroyed the  individuality  and  patriotic  ardor  of  our  people, 
each  of  whom,  prior  to  that  time,  felt  that  as  a  freeman  he 
was  part  of  the  Government,  and  that  it  was  his  war.  But 
so  soon  as  this  policy  was  adopted,  he  felt  that  it  was  the 
I  Jovernment's  war,  and  that  he  was  no  longer  a  freeman, 
but  the  slave  of  absolute  power.  This  was  not  the  free- 
dom lie  set  out  to  fight  for,  and  thousands  of  men,  rather 
than  submit  to  it  and  remain  in  service,  feeling  that  they 
wore  the  collar  of  power  upon  their  necks,  have  left  the 
army  without  leave.  Hence  the  President's  complaint,  the 
cause  of  which*  mra  been  the  necessary  result  of  his  own 
policy.  He  lias  mistffkeji  the  genius  and  spirit  of  our  peo- 
ple, and  tiie  material  of  which  his  armies  are  composed. 
The  high-toned,  spirited  Southern  man  will  revolt  when 
you  attempt  to  reduce  him  to  an  automaton  of  power. 

Prior  to  the  passage  of  this  fatal  act,  men  taxed  their  in- 
genuity to  dovisc  plans  to  induce  the  President  to  receive 
them  into  ?ervice.  So  soon,  however,  as  the  act  was  pass- 
ed, which  denied  them  the  right  in  future  to  form  their  or- 
ganizations, and  enter  service  as  willing  freemen,  with  their 
neighbors  and  friends,  and  gave  the  President  the  power  to 
seize  them  and  appoint  their  officers,  the,  whole  feeling  was 
changed,  and  men  have  resorted  to  every  imaginable  shift 
to  keep  out  of  the  service. 

The  excuse  that  conscription  was  necessary  to  keep  the 
twelve  months  men  in  service,  or  to  fill  their  places  cannot 
avail. 

The  President  knew,  months  before,  when  the  term  of 
these  men  would  expire,  and  made  no  eflort  to  organize 
troop  their  places.     A  bill  was  introduced  into  tee 

Provisional   Congress  by  a  distinguished  Georgian,  but  a 
short  tii.Mc  before  its  expiration   in  February,  1862,  author- 
izing the  President  to  call   forth  the  militia  to   anv  extent 
[uisitiona  upon  the  States;  and   to  call  for 
i  for  three  years,  at  his  discretion.     This  would  have 
the  appointment  of  the  officers  with  the  States,  where 
the  Constitution  leaves  it.     The  influence  of  the  President, 


1$ 

was  actively  used  to  defeat  this  hill,  on  the  ground  that  he 
did  not  need  the  law,  as  he  had  more  troopi  tendered  than 
he  could  accept  and  arm.  Early  in  April  following,  be 
called  lor  the  conscript  act,  on  the  ground  of  necessity,  to 
fill  up  the  army,  and  tin1,  hill  was  patted  giving  him  the 
patronage  and  power  above  mentioned.  If  conscriptiou 
had  been  necessary  to  keep  the  twelve  months  men  in  ser- 
rice  till  their  places  could  be  tilled,  that  afforded  no  reason 
why  the  act  should  have  embraced  the  whole  population  of 
the  Confederacy  within  military  age.  A  special  act  appli- 
cable only  to  the  twelve  months  men,  for  a  short  period, 
till  troops  could  have  been  furnished  by  the  States  to  take. 
their  places,  would  have  met  that  necessity.  This,  howev- 
er, would  not  have  given  the  President  the  appointment  of 
the  officers  for  all  the  troops  to  be  organized.  His  negkei 
to  call  upon  the  .States  for  troops  to  fill  the  places  of  the 
twelve  months  men,  was  made  the  occasion  for  vesting  im- 
mense power  and  patronage  in  him,  and  fastening  conscrip- 
tion, with  all  its  evils,  upon  the  country. 

The  President  bat  been  as  unfortunate  in  his  generalship, 
planning  military  campaigns,  as  he  has  in  his  policy  of  re- 
cruiting his  armies.  All  remember  his  first  appearance  on 
the  field  as  Commander-in-Chief  at  the  close  ol  the  battle 
of  first  Manassas,  when  (if  reports  are  reliable)  he  prevented 
our  Generals  from  taking  adrantage  of  the  complete  de- 
moralization of  the  Federal  army,  to  march  upon  Washing- 
ton City,  when  it  must  have  fallen  into  our  hands  with  little 
resistance.  He  visited  the  army  in  Middle  Tennessee,  and 
divided  it,  sending  part  of  it  to  Mississippi  too  late  to  ac- 
complish any  good  results  there,  and  left  General  Bragg  so 
weak,  that  he  was  forced  to  evacuate  Tennessee,  which, 
together  with  Vicksburg,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 
He  again  appeared  upon  the  field  at  Missionary  Ridge,  and 
divided  the  army,  when  a  superior  force  wa«  matted  in  its 
front.  Getieral  Longstreet's  corps  was  sent  into  East  Ten- 
nessee. General  (J rant  waited  till  he  was  out  of  reach, 
when  he  fell  upon  the  remnant  of  Bragg's  army  and  drove 
it  back  into  Georgia,  opening  the  way  for  the  advance  into 
this  State,  and  then  se^t  troops  and  drove  Longstreet  out. 
of  P^ast  Tennessee,  and  made  himself  master  of  that  inval- 
uable stronghold  of  the  Confederacy. 

The  President's  last  appearance  upon  the  field  was  with 
General  Hood's  army  in  this  State,  which  was  followed  by 
tlje  movement  of  that  army  into  Tennessee.  The  country 
knows  the  result.  Hood  has  been  driven  out  of  Tennessee 
with  great  calamity,  and  Georgia,  which^was  left  complete- 
ly uncovered,  has-been  destroyed  by  Sherman  at  his  leisure. 

Instead  of  rapid  concentration  of  our  armies  at  vital 
points,  to  strike  the  enemy  stunning  blows,  our  policy  has 
been  to  divide  and  scatter  our  forces  iu  the  face  of  superior 


19 

numbers,  and  receive  blows  which  have  well  nigh  cost  us 
our  existence  as  a  Confederacy. 

Our  people  have  endured  this  misrule  with  remarable 
forbearance  and  patriotism.  But  the  time  has  come  when 
we  are  obliged  to  deal  with  stern  realities,  and  to  look  facts 
lull  in  the  face.  We  can  no  longer  profit  by  hugging  delu- 
sions to  our  bosoms.  Our  Government  is  now  a  military 
despotism  when  the  privilege  of  the  writ  of  habe<is  corpus 
is  suspended,  an  object  to  which  the  President's  earnest  ef- 
forts, are  constantly  directed.  The  tendency  to  anarchy  is 
rapid  and  fearful. 

The  Lincoln  dynasty  informs  us  distinctly,  that  recon- 
struction or  subjugation  are  the  only  alternatives  to  be  pre- 
sented tO  U8. 

The  present  policy,  if  persisted  in,  must  terminate  in  re- 
construction, either  with  or  without  subjugation.  I  accuse 
no  supporter  of  the  measuies  of  the  administration  of  any 
such  design.  But,  entertaining  the  opinions  which  I  do  of 
its  results,  if  I  favored  reconstruction  or  subjugation,  to 
both  of  which  I  am  utterly  opposed,  I  would  give  an 'earn- 
est support  to  the  President's  policy,  as  the  surest  mode  of 
diminishing  our  armies,  exhausting  our  resources,  breaking 
the  spirits  of  our  people,  and  driving  them  in  despair  to 
seek  refuge  from  a  worse  tyranny  by  placing  themselves 
under  the  protection  of  a  government  which  they  loath  and 
detest,  because  it  has  wronged  and  tyrannized  over  them, 
destroyed  their  property,  and  slaughtered  their  sons. 

These  are  sad  truths  which  it  is  exceedingly  unpleasant 
to  announce.  But  true  Statesmanship  requires  that  the 
ruler  do  the  best  that  can  be  done  for  his  people  under  all 
circumstances  by  which  they  are  at  the  time  surrounded. 
And  the  statesman  who  sees  nothing  but  ruin  i,h  the  pur- 
suit of  a  line  of  policy  and  does  not  warn  his  countrymen 
against  it,  is  unworthy  the  high  trust  confided  to  his  care. 

But  you  may  ask,  do  I  despair  of  the  justice  of  our  cause 
or  of  our  ability  to  succeed.  I  answer  emphatically,  No. 
Bad  as  our  policy  has  been,  and  much  as  we  have  wasted 
of  men  and  means,  we  still  have  enough  of  both,  if  properly 
used,  to  continue,  the  struggle  till  we  achieve  our  independ- 
ence and  re-establish  in  these  States  constitutional  liberty 
which  has  been  for  the  time  so  completely  crushed. 

To  enable  us  to  do  this  the  conscription  act  must  be  re- 
pealed, and  the  policy  abandoned,  and  we  must  return  to 
the  constitutional  mode  of  raising  troops  by  the  States. 
The  States  can  not  do  this  successfully  while  conscription 
is  practiced,  and  they  thwarted  in  their  efforts  by  conflict 
or  collision  with  Confederate  officers.  In  a  word  the  two 
systems  can  not  work  together. 

Our  armies,  composed  of  the  militia  or  arms*bearing  peo- 
ple of  the  States,  must  be  re-organized  under  officers  ap- 


20 

pointed  by  th«  respective  Stab 
This  would  enable  the  States  in  the  re-orgauia 
into  tin-  ranks  all  supernumerary    officers,  i Deluding  tin- 
large  number' of  Confederate  enroll  who  wit; 
commands  are  now  supported  and  paid  by  the  government, 
and  to  displace  such  bow  in  command  of    troojw  I  ty- 
rannical and  inefficient,  and  "ill  their  places  with  tli 
have  shown  themselves  competent,  and  who  have  tlie conti- 
nence of  the  troops  to  be  commanded  by  them.     The  Si 
in  the  re-organization  of  these  troops  could  also  pul 
service  the  large  number  of  able-bodied  yojung  men  within 
their  I'm;    s,  who  now  at  home,  hold    appointments   under 
the  Confederacy  which  serve  il.-.|, 
without  reciprocal  benefit  to  the  common  cause.     In  the 
same  manner  great  numbei                                        i  neither 
patriotism  nor  gallantry,  who  have  beep  driven  out  of  the 
armies  by  the  petty  tyranny  pf  subaltern  o 
at  Richmond  to  command  them,  could  bo  broi 
the  States  under  officer*  of  their  ow 
make  excellent   troops,     Remove  the  shnckles  of  boi 
from  the  limbs  of  our  troops,  and  h  t  them  I 
again  freem<  a  fighting  in  fre< 
ernment   stands  by  and  roai 
constitutional  liberty,   and  S\.\'r    So 
they  took.  up  arms,  and  they  wii!  rc-euh  c  the  field  with  re- 
newed hopes,            linqd  to  conquer  au  hooou 
fill  a  sold            ive. 

"\V«  eturn  to  the  observant  od  faith  with  our 

troops — pay  them  when  tin  ir  wages  are  dui .  and  d 
them  when  their  terms  expire. 

We  must  pass  no  more  acts  pf  repudiation  of  our  govern- 
ment issues  of  currency.     We  must  receive  in  pa; 
Confederate  taxes  all  notes,  bonds or  certificates  which  ptfri 
sons  are  compelled  by  the  government  to  take,  in  payment 
for  property  taken  from  them,  by  its  impressment  otfii 

AVe  must  abandon  the  policy  of  supporting  the  armies  by 
impressments  or  forcible  seizures  of  property,  and  must 
adopt  the  policy  of  purchasing  what  we  need,  except  in  ex- 
treme cases  which  justify  impressment,  and  then  we  must 
pay  as  the  constitution  requires  just  compensation  for  the 
property  taken.  This  equalizes  the  burdens  by  dividing  the 
whole  among  the  entire  number  of  tax-payers,  in  propor- 
tion te  the  amount  of  property  owned  by  each, 

Representation  without  constituency  must  im  longer  be 
allowed;  nor  must  laws  be  dictated  to  us  by  the  votes  of 
representatives  without  accountability  to  those  who  share 
in  the  burdens  imposed  by  the  legislation  enacted  by  them. 
Secret  sessions  of  Congress  except  in  cases  where  legisla- 
tion affecting  the  movements  of  our  armies  is  pending,  must 
be  abandoned  and  the  people  must  know  as  they  ha^  a  right 


21 

to  /./ton;  how  their  representatives  act  and  vote  upon  all 
measures  affecting  thsir  vital  interests,  their  rights  and  their 
honor. 

Discipline  must  be  restored  and  enforeed  in  our  armies. 
One  of  the  reasons  given  by  its  advocates  for  the  enactment 
of  the  conscript  law  was  that  better  discipline  would  be 
maintained  by  giving  the  appointment  of  the  officers  to  the 
President.  Results  have  shown  the  reverse  to  be  true.  Pri- 
or to  the  adoption  of  that  plan,  the  officers  selected  by  the 
troops  themselves  and  appointed  by  the  States,  kept  the 
men  in  the  field,  and  we  triumphed  gloriously  in  almost  ev 
ery  engagement  with  theenemy.  Since  that  time  the  officers 
appointed  by  the  President  have  neither  maintained  discip- 
line nor  kept  the  men  in  the  field.  If  the  President's  state- 
ment is  reliable  they  have  only  one-third  of  them  there. 
And  1  fear  the  discipline  of  that  third  is  loose  compared 
with  that  exhibited  by  the  Federal  army  in  its  march 
through  this  State. 

The  President  having  failed  in  his  military  administration 
ind  brought  the  country  to  the  verge  of  ruin  by  his  milita- 
ry policy,  should  be  relieved  of  that  part  of  his  duties,  by 
an  amendment  of  the  Constitution  to  provide  for  the  ap- 
pointment of  a  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  armies  of  Che 
Confederacy,  by  the  President,  by  and  with  the  consent  of 
two-thirds  of  the  Senate,  who  shall  be  entirely  free  from 
the  control  of  the  President  and  removable  only  by  the  same 
power  by  which  he  was  appointed.  This  would  place  the 
best  military  talent  of  the  country  in  command  of  our  ar- 
mies, not  in  name  only  but  in  fact,  and  would  save  us  in  fu- 
tuie  from  the  heavy  calamities  which  have  befallen  us  by 
the  capricious  removal  of  a  great  commander,  at  a  most 
critical  juncture  of  an  ably  conducted  defensive  campaign. 

The  late  act  of  (.  ongress  did  not,  and  could  not,  take 
from  the  President  his  constitutional  power  as  Conrmander- 
in-Chief.  It  provides  for  the  appointment  of  a  (jetifra/-\u- 
Chief.  Robert  K.  Pee  as  CiV^croZ-in-Chief  is  as  subject  to 
the  order  of  the  President  as  he  was  before  the  act  of  Con- 
gress, and  his  appointment  under  it,  and  the  President  may 
at  any  moment  frustrate  his  plans  by  orders  which  he  is  ob- 
liged to  obey.  Congress  cannot  divest  the  President  of  this 
power  over  all  the  Generals  in  Confederate  service,  includ- 
ing the  CiVwe/Y/Ain-Chief.  This  power  is  conferred  by  the 
Constitution  and  can  only  be  taken  away  by  an  amendment 
of  that  instrument. 

These  <  hangefl  may  be  made  without  the  evils  of  revolu- 
tion within  revolution.  The  Constitution  provides  for  if* 
own  amendment.  The  remedy  is  perfectly  peaeelul.  It  de- 
clares that :  Upon  Che  demand  of  any  Ihree  States  legally 
assembled  in  their  several  conventions,  the  Congress  shall 
summon  a  convention  of  all  the  States  to  take  into  conside- 


21 

ration  Buch  amendments  to  the  Constitution  as  the  said 
States  shall  concur  in  suggesting,  at  the  time  when  aaidde- 
mand  is  made. 

It  is  perfectly  legitimate  and  proper  for  three  States  to 
demand  such  convention,  whenever  in  the  opinion  of  their 
people  the  public  good  or  the  common  safety  requires  it  In 
my  opinion  the  best  interest  el  the  country  requires  that 
such  convention  meet  with  as  little  delay  as  possible,  to 
propose  such  intendments  te  the  Constitution,  as  will  re- 
form abuses  by  settling  disputed  points,  ami  effeei  a  speedy 
ami  thorough  change  of  policy  in  conducting  the  war  and 
filling  up  and  sustaining  our  armies*  I  am  not  afraid  to  trust 
the  people  in  convention.  I  therefore  recommend  the  call 
ofa  convention  of  the  people  of  thin  State  for  the  purpose  of 
proposing  such  amendments  to  the  constitution  as  will  re- 
lieve the  President  of  his  responsibility  as  (Joinmander-iu- 
Chif f  of  the  armies,  and  will  provide  for  the  appointment  of 
a  Commander-in-Chief  ip  time  of  war,  and  to  propose  such 
other  amendments  and  do  such' other  acts,  as  will  correct 
the  abuses  and  aflord  remedies  for  the  grievances  hereinbe- 
fore btated. 

I  also  recommend  that  this  General  Assembly  appoint 
commissioners  to  each  of  the  other  Stales  of  the  Confedera- 
cy, requesting; them  to  assemble  in  Convention  at  an  early 
day  to  demand  of  Congress  the  call  ofa  Convention  of  all 

the  States,  for  the  purposes  ;:bo\ ••■  specified. 

The  Speedy  adoption  of  this  policv  is  in  my  judgment  in- 
dispensable to  the  achievement  of  our  independence,  and  the 
maintainauce  of  the  great  principles  of  State  Sovereignty 
and  constiintional  liberty  which  underlie  the  foundations  of 
our  federative  system  of  government — gave  being  te  our 
present  confederation  oi  States — and  are  absolutely  necessa- 
ry to  the  futnre  prosperity  and  happiness  of  our  people.  By 
the  construction  placed  upon  the  Constitution  as  it  now 
stands,  by  those  who  administer  the  Conlederate  Govern- 
ment, these  great  principles  have  been  disregarded,  and  the 
sovereignty  of  the  Stans,  and  rights  of  the  people,  lost  sight 
of  in  the  struggle  for  independence. 

The  achievement  of  our  independence  seems  to  be  the 
great  end  and  only  good  aimed  at  by  those  who  wield  the 
power  at  Richmond.  We  have  been  told  from  the  halls  of 
Congress  that  courts  must  be  closed,  and  State  lines  oblitera 
trd,  if  necessary  to  accomplish  this  object.  Indeed,  some 
persons  in  authority  seem  to  have  forgotten  that  we  are 
lighting  for  anything  but  independence.  If  so  the  whole 
struggle  is  in  vain,  for  we  had  that  in  the  old  government, 
which  was  our  government,  consecrated  by  the  blood  of  our 
ancestors  and  transmitted  from  sire  tc  son.  We  were  inde- 
pendent of  all  other  powers.  But  the  people  of  the  North- 
ern States  got  control  of  that  government,  and  so  adminis- 


23 

tered  it  as  to  imperil  not  our  independence  but  our  rigJife. 
We  then  separated  from  them  and  are  fighting  for  our  rights 
and  OUT  liberties  ;  and  as  a  means  of  maintaining  and  securing 
those  rights  and  liberties  we  declared  our  independence. 
Independence  with  these  is  worth  all  the  sacrifices  which 
we  have  made  or  can  make.  Our  rights  and  liberties  are 
not  secondary  to  our  independence,  but  our  independence  is 
only  necessary  to  protect  our  rights  and  our  liberties.  Rus- 
sia is  independent  of  all  the  world,  so  is  Turkey,  while 
the  government  of  each  is  a  despotism  ;  and  thej>eople  have 
only  the  rights  and  liberties  which  the  sovereign  chooses  to 
permit  them  to  exercise.  If  this  is  the  sort  ofindependence 
forVvhich  we  are  fighting,our  great  sacrifices  have  been  made 
to  but  little  purpose.  The  recognition  by  foreign  powers  of 
the  independence  of  our  rulers  and  of  their  right  to  govern 
us,  without  the  recognition  of  our  .rights  and  liberties  by 
our  rulers,  is  not  worth  the  blood  of  the  humblest  citizen. 
We  must  gain  more  than  this  in  the  struggle  or  we  have 
made  a  most  unfortunate  exchange:  The  further  pursuit  of 
our  present  policy  not  only  endangers  our  rights  and  our 
liberties,  but  our  independence  also,  by  destroying  the  in- 
stitutions and  breaking  the  spirits  of  our  people.  Let  us 
beware  how  we  trifle  with  the  rights,  the  liberties,  and  the 
happiness  of  millions. 

I  am  aware  that  the  freedom  and  plainness,  which  a  sense 
of  duty  to  my  country  has  compelled  me  to  exercise,  in  dis- 
cussing the  measures  of  the  administration,  and  the  policy 
of  the  government,  may  subject  my  motives  to  miscon- 
struction. I  feel  the  proud  consciousness,  however,  that  I 
have  been  actuated  only  by  a  desire  to  promote  the  cause 
so  dear  to  every  patriot's  heart,  and  thereby  secure  the  in- 
dependence of  the  Confederacy,  with  the  civil  and  religious 
liberties  and  constitutional  rights  of  the  people,  without 
which  independence  is  an  empty  name,  and  the  glory  and 
grandeur  of  our  republican  system  is  departed  forever.  No 
one  can  be  more  vitally  interested  than  myself  in  the  suc- 
cess of  our  cause.  I  have  staked  life,  liberty,  property, 
and  the  liberties  of  my  posterity,  upon  the  result.  The  en- 
emy have  burned  my  dwelling  and  other  houses,  destroyed 
my  property,  and  shed  in  rich  profusion  the  blood  of  nearest 
relatives.  My  destiny  is  linked  with  my  country.  If  we 
succeed  I  am  a  freeman.  But  if  by  the  Obstinacy,  weak- 
ness or  misguided  judgment  of  our  rulers  we  fail,  the  same 
common  ruin  awaits  me  which  awaits  my  countrymen.  It 
is  no  time  to  conceal  ideas  in  courtly  phrase.  The  nio-ht  is 
dark,  the  tempest  howls,  the  ship  is  lashed  with  turbulent 
waves,  the  helmsman  is  steering  to  the  whirlpool,  our  re- 
monstrances are  unheeded,  nid  we  must  restrain  him,  or  ilie 
crew  must  sink  together  submerged  in  irretrievable  ruin 

-Kl'H   E.  BROWN. 


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